Hell In The Pacific (1968)

One would think that a film directed by John Boorman (EXCALIBUR) with Lee Marvin and Toshiro Mifune in the central roles might have something going for it but this tale of two soldiers, one Japanese and one American, stranded on a desert island during WWII is a rather lackluster production. We’re tossed into the middle of it without knowing how they got on the island (or even who got there first) or even how far into the war we are. What we’re left with is some stunning cinematography by Conrad Hall (shot in the Palau islands) and not much else, the dialogue is minimal with Mifune speaking in Japanese and Marvin in English. Lalo Schifrin contributes the tepid score. The ending makes no narrative sense at all and the original (or alternate ending) would have been preferable as well as logical.